The Australian Submarine Propel Scholarship

Description

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering’s Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship Program (“Propel”) will award up to 3,000 undergraduate scholarships to students studying degrees relevant to the AUKUS Nuclear-Powered Submarine (NPS) enterprise. The Propel program provides a scholarship and engagement opportunities with ATSE and key stakeholders relevant to the AUKUS NPS enterprise.

Benefits

Program aims

The aims of the Propel program are to:

• support students undertaking undergraduate tertiary studies in priority Science, Technology Engineering, Maths (STEM) subjects to progress and succeed in their studies,
• build engagement and connections between students, the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) and the broader NPS enterprise,
• support greater awareness of and applications to ASA and Defence entry level workforce programs, and
• promote the Australian Government investment in the NPS enterprise workforce and STEM studies more broadly

Successful applicants will be notified from November 2025. Scholars will participate in the program for a maximum of two years. Scholars will receive two payments: • $3,000 in May 2026 • $2,000 in May 2027

Eligibility

Applicants must meet these three eligibility criteria:

• Be enrolled as a domestic student at an Australian university

• Be studying one or more of the STEM Bachelor (undergraduate) degrees, such as a Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, or another aligned STEM Bachelor degree.

• Have at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) study remaining in their degree 

All applicants who meet the above criteria are eligible for a scholarship. Suitability for a scholarship will consider a range of dimensions, including priority degrees and disciplines, location of the university in where the degree will be undertaken, and demographic data to ensure a diverse pool of scholars.

Selection Criteria

All applications will be assessed for eligibility, and then a range of factors will be considered by an expert selection panel for the allocation of scholarships. These factors will be considered across the final cohort to ensure a diverse and appropriate cohort: 

• Scholars studying a range of degrees relevant to the AUKUS NPS enterprise
•  Demographics and identities to ensure diversity amongst the cohort
• Geographical location prioritising WA and SA Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged.